WA man admits home break-in murder

A man has admitted breaking into a Perth home, murdering a resident and attacking his partner.

Damian Eric Maxfield, 34, was due to stand trial before a judge alone in the Supreme Court of WA on Monday, accused of stabbing 40-year-old Scott Martin to death and seriously injuring his partner Erelle Mason, 32, in their Halls Head apartment in January last year.

Maxfield instead pleaded guilty to murder, aggravated burglary, and doing an act likely to endanger the life, health or safety of a person.

The latter charge was downgraded from attempted murder on a public interest basis, Prosecutor Laura Christian said.

Maxfield showed no emotion when he entered his pleas, but there were tears in the packed public gallery.

According to a crowdfunding page that was created the day after the crimes, the couple had lost their three-week-old boy Mason to SIDS.

Maxfield, who broke into the property while Mr Martin and Ms Mason were asleep, will face a sentencing hearing on Thursday.